Fixing a screwdriver scar? C1 error after striking MB with screwdriver.

[SlitheryDee]

So I was installing a new Heatsink and Fan in my HTPC. The orientation of the MB and the way the fan overhung those damnable Intel pushpins (for securing the HSF to the MB) necessitated the use of a screwdriver to actually apply the pressure to two of the pins to get them to snap in place. Needless to say my screwdriver slipped off of one of them and put a barely noticeable scar on the board near the CPU socket. It didn't look like it actually went deep enough to sever any of the wires running through the board, so I figured I had dodged a bullet. I was rather put off by the lack of posting I got when I fired the machine up.

The diagnostic LED readout was hanging at C1, which I found out was "memory presence check". Going off that I removed all the memory except the stick farthest from the CPU slot and tried again. It booted up fine this time. It also booted up fine with a stick in the second to farthest slot from the CPU. It does NOT post with a memory stick in either of the two closest slots, hanging at C1 once again. I've tried all the sticks of memory I have in every combination of slots, cleared the CMOS, etc. My only conclusion is that I have rendered two of my memory slots useless. Worse, the motherboard uses staggered slots for dual channel operation, so I'm running on single channel only. This is unacceptable.


Or maybe it's not the scar that's the problem? The only out of the way thing that happened was the screwdriver scratch, so I'm assuming that but I'm open to suggestions. If it is the scratch, is there any method I might use to fix it? Or should I just replace the MB?

 

[Kenmitch]

You could try to repair it with a conductive ink pen or maybe a rear defogger repair kit?

 

[SlitheryDee]

You could try to repair it with a conductive ink pen or maybe a rear defogger repair kit?

I might, but the leads running through that area are very small and close together. I kinda doubt my ability to precisely reconnect each one without some "crossover" between them. In fact, I'm sure any conductive pen's tip would be too large to isolate each lead individually. Would it work if I just sort of "colored in" the scar with conductive ink?

 

[Kenmitch]

Pretty sure if you just colored in the area you'd have more problems if more than one trace is in the area and cut or exposed.

Most likely your gonna have to magnify the area to work on it....You could use a needle maybe to apply whatever you find to fix it.

Maybe use a camcorder or something to zoom in on it and work from your tv....Just a thought

 

[tcsenter]

I hate when that happens. Use a needle tip to apply the conductive material.

 

[Modelworks]

Use a digital camera as suggested. The best way to get good quality shots of circuit boards is to place the motherboard vertically against a wall or anything to hold it up and also place the camera on something like a chair so it doesn't move any when taking the shot. Trying to hold the camera over a board and take a perfectly clear shot can be much harder.

On the pc you can then zoom in to see what the damage really is.



Once you see if it is a bad trace you would need to carefully scrape off the coating from the trace and apply conductive ink .

Next time you need to push on something chopsticks, Popsicle sticks and other wood items work best.

 

[soccerballtux]

I'm thinking more that the copper from one trace has been smudged into the copper from the nearest neighbor. I had this happen a few times myself (back when I had to do circuit work on the job).

It's conceivable you could get it working again. Just be careful.

 

[hymy]

Years ago I had a MB that was blown out by a bad power supply. I put it under a stereoscope, at about 40x and located the blown traces, and simply used a dissecting needle to smear the copper back together. I got alot more years out of that board.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I went ahead and got a new MB for the htpc because I honestly can't stand to be without it, but after I pull the old board I'll attempt to get a good shot of the scarred area with a digital camera. If I manage to fix it or even if I don't and also don't render it useless It'll make a good upgrade for another of the house pcs. I'll update if any of the suggestions in this thread works. Thanks for the help!

 

[*kjm]

Call your local tech colleges and see if they can help. I work at one in WI and we have Microscopes and could hook you up the right way........ never know.